Charlton Athletic fan 'can only get season ticket if he signs behavioural contract' and agrees not to badmouth club on social media

A football fan was told by a London club he would only be given his season ticket if he agreed to sign a "behavioural" contract, promising not to criticise the club on social media.

The Charlton Athletic fan said he was “stunned” when he received the letter which said he would only get his £175 ticket if he signed an "Agreed Behavioural Contract".

The 27-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, was told his pre-paid ticket had been “conditioned” after the Football League One club was made aware of comments he had made on social media.

It stated: “As a club we have listened to and acted upon some of the concerns raised by the supporters during the close season. We have identified however that certain comments placed on social media websites by yourself have been not particularly constructive.

The administration worker told The Telegraph he refused to sign the Agreed Behavioural Contract

“Whilst we recognise that everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, it is not helpful when inflammatory comments are posted on such websites.”

The fan, who works in administration, was then told he would have to pick the ticket up in person from former police Chief Inspector Cliff Eager, who joined the club last month after a 35-year career in the police force.

The letter continued: “I need to advise you that the granting of your season ticket will be 'conditioned' and subject to you signing an 'Agreed Behavioral [sic] Contract' (ABC) which will request that you refrain from posting derogatory or inflammatory comments regarding the Club or people representing the club in the future on any social media websites, or carrying out any other form of behavior that could be deemed to be on an anti-social nature.”

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the fan described how he called the club after paying for his season ticket, which never showed up and two days later the letter arrived in the post.

Yesterday, he went to the meeting with the club and said: “They told me I had been tweeting excessively and causing other people to tweet as well - which is ridiculous.

The letter the 27-year-old fan received

“I didn’t sign the contract – I don’t have an Asbo and I’m not a hooligan. Eventually they gave me my season ticket but they said they would be watching me and that I needed to keep my head down, and anything I post on social media shouldn’t be against the club and I had to behave in the stadium.

"It's disgusting what is going on at the club -they are trying to bully anyone who says anything negative about them. It's like the club is being run by a dictator like in North Korea."

The supporter has been a season ticket holder for 13 years and described how he travels all over the country to watch his team play.

He said: “I’m such a big fan and I’ve spent thousands of pounds supporting them. I’m just angry about it to be honest. I’ve never been in trouble with the club before. I’ve been to hundreds of games, come rain or shine. If the club do decide to ban me then I will just go to away games.”

Congratulations @CAFCofficial . You've made yourselves look very silly to every football fan worldwide with that awful Orwellian letter.

The fan admitted his tweets had contained swear words but he added: “I haven’t tweeted anything inciting hate or anything inflammatory. It’s more frustration with the club and the manager. It’s general football banter.

“My query is if my tweets were that bad, why wouldn’t the club just block me on Twitter?”

A spokesperson for Charlton Athletic confirmed one letter had been sent to this particular fan.

They said it related to “continued inappropriate behaviour towards members of staff on Charlton’s official social media accounts and foul and abusive language captured on stadium cameras".

The spokesperson said: “For a number of years, the club, together with the Metropolitan Police, have run an Agreed Behavioural Contract process which is designed to respond to anti-social behaviour rather than criminal prosecution or banning orders.

I didn’t sign the contract – I don’t have an ASBO and I’m not a hooligan. Eventually they gave me my season ticket but they said they would be watching me and that I needed to keep my head down and anything I post on social media shouldn’t be against the club and I had to behave in the stadiumThe fan

“In the past, such contracts have been signed by individuals to address a variety of issues such as constant use of foul and abusive language in the family area.

“The individual met with Head of Matchday Operations Mick Everett, who has worked for the club for more than 20 years, and recently appointed Duty Safety Officer, Cliff Eager, who joined the club in June after 35 years of experience as Chief Inspector within the Police.

“During the meeting, the level of abuse, which the individual has since voluntarily removed from their Twitter account, was discussed.

“The meeting ended amicably and, as he appeared sincere in his apology, the club handed the individual his 2016/17 season ticket and he was not asked to sign an Agreed Behavioural Contract.

“Charlton wish to emphasise that we encourage supporters to engage with the club, but like any other football club, will not tolerate abusive and threatening behaviour."

Charlton, which has changed managers 14 times in the past 10 years, has been subjected to fierce criticism from fans, including angry protests, since Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet bought the club in January 2014.

Under his ownership, the club has dropped down the league table and at the end of last season was relegated to League One.

The blackmailing letter @CAFCofficial to a fan about season ticket was absolutely disgraceful. Fans should start their own club like Dons